Most people don’t realize it but the Pope is in a unique position to reduce global warming more than any other individual on the planet. How you ask? By embracing birth control.

The single biggest cause of man made global warming is overpopulation. There are just too many people on the planet and the number is growing. Even if we develop clean technologies to cut emissions per person in half, when the population doubles we are right back where we started. The evolutionary fossil record indicates that overpopulation where a species destroys its habitat is one of the most common causes of extinction. There is nothing that will prevent the extinction of humanity if we fail to do what it takes to survive.

If the new pope were to embrace birth control then 1 billion people on the planet would slow their reproductive rates and set a new example for reproductive responsibility. So there is an opportunity to do something responsible, something real. So I hope that the cardinals choose wisely and pick a pope for the 21st century rather than the 12th century.